Vanstone new chair of Royal Flying Doctor Service

Former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone has been named as the new national chair of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Ms Vanstone was a South Australian senator for 23 years until 2007 and was the Australian ambassador to Italy until 2010.

She describes the RFDS, whose base in Broken Hill began in 1937, as an "iconic" institution.

Ms Vanstone says she intends to raise the profile of on of Australia's most crucial institutions.

"I'd hope to contribute to the RFDS in a number of ways," she said.

"One would be that I do bring experience in working in federated bodies, but also I would hope to use the position to raise the profile of the RFDS, because it services our huge land mass, it goes where other will not go, it is dependable and they'll be there when you need them."

The RFDS undertakes emergency and primary care flights that cover nearly 27 million kilometres each year.